Portable, Moving Target System

ABSTRACT

A portable moving target system (PMTS) made of a target that is removably affixed atop a manually rockable target frame. The target frame is made of a set of removable “slot and tab” planar components so, when assembled, form a sideways rockable “hobby horse” style of target frame that may be manipulated by tensioning a cable affixed to one end of the target frame. The target frame has dual bottom runners with teeth that matingly engage a track formed on the sides of the storage box base, which is staked to the ground. The teeth and track design limit the movement of the target frame in any direction other than along the linear axis of the storage box base. When disassembled, the entire device fits into the storage box base for transporting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an extremely compact system for transporting, assembling, securing and operating a shooting target adapted to provide both enjoyment and convenience for the user. More particularly, to a user rockable target having a small disassembled profile wherein all useable parts of the system also form the system's transporting container.

Americans have a love with firearms and more so, Americans have a love with firing their guns. For this reason, memberships to private or commercial shooting ranges has reached an all time high. Shooters can rent submachine guns and numerous large caliber arms for their day outings at certain gun ranges. However, shooting at a still target quickly becomes boring and passé. Once one's skills at stationary target practice are developed, the shooter generally wants to move onto more challenging situations.

For those inclined to shoot outdoors, exploding target powers that emit thunderous booms, brightly visible light flashes or both, are frequently used. Still others release wild birds/game or rely on a mechanically thrown skeet to provide a moving target. Simply stated, once a shooter has developed adequate shooting skills with a stationary target they bore and move onto shooting something that moves or has a novel indicator of accuracy. The existing solutions all involve expensive options and consumable targets. Unfortunately, to do this involves money, something that not all shooters have.

Henceforth, an inexpensive, reusable, repairable moving target system would fulfill a long felt need in the field of target shooting industry. This new invention utilizes and combines known and new technologies in a unique and novel configuration to overcome the aforementioned problems and accomplish this.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a portable, compact moving target system that is able to manipulated by a sole shooter, therein providing them hours of enjoyment while honing their shooting skills.

It has many of the advantages mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new shooting target system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.

In accordance with the invention, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved moving shooting target system capable of storage in a minimal of space.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved target shooting system capable of simple replacement or repair of each component of the system.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved shooting target system that is inexpensive.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide for an improved shooting target system that can support various paper targets thereon.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective front side view of the portable moving target system showing the general arrangement of all components;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective front side view of the portable moving target system showing the general arrangement of all components;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an empty storage box base for the portable moving target system with the sliding lid partially removed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective disassembly view of the slot and tab connection points of the components of the portable moving target system;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rocker legs and rocker rails of the portable moving target system;

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are front views of the portable moving target system in its left and right extreme locations; and

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are perspective front views of the portable moving target system in its left and right extreme locations as manipulated by the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.

The above description will enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention. It also sets forth the best modes for carrying out this invention. There are numerous variations and modifications thereof that will also remain readily apparent to others skilled in the art, now that the general principles of the present invention have been disclosed.

Looking at FIG. 1, the portable moving target system (PMTS) 2 can best be seen. It is comprised of a manually rockable target 4 (in a human outline form) that is removably affixed atop a rockable target frame. The target frame is made of a set of removable “slot and tab” planar components so, when assembled, form a sideways rockable “hobby horse” style of target frame having two substantially similar, parallel, runners 6 that meshingly engage dual runner rails 8 formed about the inner perimeter of the rectangular storage box base 10. The storage box base 10 serves as a flat platform that is securable to the ground though a series of spikes (not illustrated) that pass through orifices 12 formed through the planar bottom face 14 of the box base 10. (See FIG. 3) In this manner, upon assembly, the box base 10 may be leveled underneath and temporarily secured to the ground so as to prevent the counter reactive forces of the movement of a rocking target 4 being struck with bullets, from moving the entire PMTS 2 sideways or even worse, from tipping over.

The storage box base 10 is an enclosable, rectangular planar body that has four sides affixed to extend normally from a planar bottom face 12 and a removable planar lid 16 with a finger pull 22 formed thereon. A pin or screw can be inserted through the locking orifice 24 to secure the lid 16 to a side. The internal volume of the base 10 is sufficient to hold all of the other components of a disassembled PMTS as well as spare targets and other target practice paraphernalia. About the inner periphery of three of the sides of the storage box base 10 are cut dadoes 18 having a width that slidingly accommodates the thickness of the lid 16. The fourth side is shorter than the other three sides, and ends at the level of the bottom of the dados 18, so as to accommodate the sliding insertion and removal of the lid 16. In the corners of the sides are cable orifices 20 to allow for the passing of the motion cable 22 (See FIGS. 8 and 9).

Looking at FIG. 5 one can best see the design and co-operation between the runners 6 and runner rails 7. The rectangular configuration of the base 10 has two parallel short sides and two parallel long sides. On the top inner periphery of each of the parallel long sides, above the dados 18, is formed a runner rail 8 having a semi circular detent formation 28 about its length that extends to approximately one half of the thickness of the long side. This runner rail 8 forms a track for the target frame to rock on. Each runner rail 8 meshes with the matingly conformed runners 6 on the bottom of the rockable target frame. The parallel runners 6 have their profiles located on their bottom face so as to meshingly engage their semi circular pinions 26 with the semi circular detents 28 of the runner rails 8. These pinions 26 serve as the teeth to engage the track on the runner rail 8. The profiles on the bottom face of each parallel runner 6 have their semi circular pinion formation 22 formed on their outside perimeter to approximately one half of the thickness of the runner 6. This type of engagement between the dual parallel runners 6 and the dual parallel runner rails 8 allows for the smooth rocking ability of the target frame within the box 10. Because the semi circular pinions 26 are formed on the outside of the runners 6 and the semi circular detents 28 are formed on the inside of the box sides, once they are engaged they limit movement in the side to side direction only. (Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the box 10.) Because the pinions 26 and the detents 28 are only formed to approximately half of the thickness of the runners 6 and the runner rails 8, the runners 6 cannot move with respect to the runner rails 8 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the box 10. This feature restricts the target frame's motion to only that of rocking back and forth along the longitudinal axis of the box 10. Otherwise, the impact of bullets could eventually push the target frame and target 4 off of the box 10 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the box 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the target frame is made up of two runners 6, two triangular stanchions 30 and two lock bars 32. It is to be noted that the PMTS 2 is designed with the minimum of components for quick assembly and without the need for mechanical fasteners, yet achieving maximum stability. It is also acknowledged that since the PMTS is a target, its various components will eventually, individually be compromised to the point of failure via the passage of bullets. For this reason, the various components must be easily replaced and easily manufactured. The material of choice is a laminated plywood, however, medium density fiber board or the like would also suffice.

Looking at FIG. 4 it can best be seen that the two triangular stanchions 30 of the target frame have five first linear slots 34 cut into their bodies, perpendicular to the outer edges where each is located. The runners 6 also have two identical second linear slots 36 cut into each of their bodies along the top edge, and the target 4 has two identical third linear slots 38 cut into its body along its bottom edge.

To assemble, the second linear slots 36 of the runners 6 are fully slid into the first linear slots 34 on the bottom of the stanchions 30 until the bottoms of all these slots are in contact. Then, the lock bars 32 are fully slid into the first linear slots on the side of the stanchions 30 until the bottoms of all these slots are in contact. Lastly, the third linear slots on the bottom of the target 4 are slid into the first linear slots on the top of the stanchions 30 until the bottoms of all these slots are in contact. At this point the target 4 and the target frame have been assembled and may be lifted onto the box base 10 such that the dual parallel runners 6 and the dual parallel runner rails 8 are rockably engaged. It is to be noted that the stanchions 30 reside parallel to each other (as held by the connection to the target 4 and the runners 6), and the runners 6 reside parallel to each other and perpendicular to the stanchions 30, (as held by the connection to the stanchions 30). The plane of the target 4 is parallel to the plane of the runners 6.

Once assembled and on the box base 10, a cable 40 may be threaded through the cable orifice 20 in the box base 10 with one end affixed to the end of a runner 6 and the other end affixed to the handle 42 which is in the possession of the target shooter, some distance away. When the handle 42 is pulled, the cable 40 moves the runner 6 downward on the end to which it is connected causing the target frame to rock downward to that side (see FIGS. 6 and 8). Thereafter, when the handle is relaxed, the cable 40 passes back through the cable orifice 20 allowing the target frame to rock upward on that side (see FIGS. 7 and 9).

The target 4 has a planar human outline adapted for the placement of a plethora of target accessories such as paper outlines, exploding powders, flash powers and the like. Since it is planar and preferably fabricated from a wood or wood product, paper targets or outlines can be stapled onto the target 4.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:
 1. A portable rocking target system comprising; a rockable target frame; a target; and a storage box base with at least one track formed thereon; wherein said target is removably affixed to said rockable target frame, and said rockable target frame has a set of teeth that are meshingly engaged with said track of said storage box base.
 2. The portable rocking target system of claim 1 wherein said rockable target frame has at least one planar stanchion, said planar stanchion affixed to a planar runner and to said target.
 3. The portable rocking target system of claim 2 wherein the number of stanchions is two, and the number of runners is two, and wherein said rockable target frame has at least two braces, and wherein both said stanchions are affixed to said target and to both said runners, and wherein both said runners are held in a first parallel configuration by both said stanchions, and wherein said braces are affixed to both said stanchions so as to maintain both said stanchions in a second parallel configuration that lies perpendicular to said first parallel configuration of said runners.
 4. The portable rocking target system of claim 1 further comprising at least one stake, wherein said storage box base has a planar bottom face, said planar bottom face having at least one orifice formed therethrough to accept the partial passage of said stake therethrough.
 5. The portable rocking target system of claim 1 wherein said teeth are formed on an outside edge of said runners not extending to an inside edge of said runners, and said track is formed on an inside edge of at least one side of said storage box base slots not extending to an outside edge of said side of said storage box base.
 6. The portable rocking target system of claim 1 further comprising a cable affixed to said rockable target frame.
 7. The portable rocking target system of claim 6 wherein said cable is affixed to an end of said runner.
 8. The portable rocking target system of claim 3 wherein said stanchions have a set of first slots cut therein, said runners have a set of second slots cut therein and said target has a set of third slots cut therein; and wherein said first slots matingly engage with said second slots, with said third slots and accept the insertion of said braces.
 9. The portable rocking target system of claim 8 wherein said stanchion has a top edge, two side edges and a bottom edge, and wherein said top edge has one of first slots cut therein, said bottom edge has two of said first slots cut therein, and sides each have one of said first slots cut therein.
 10. The portable rocking target system of claim 9 wherein said stanchion's top edges having one of first slots cut therein is matingly engaged to said third slots in said target, and said stanchion's bottom edges having two of said first slots cut therein is matingly engaged to said second slots in said runners, and said stanchion's side edges having two of said first slots cut therein have said braces inserted therein.
 11. The portable rocking target system of claim 1 wherein said target frame has a planar human outline adapted for the placement of a plethora of target accessories such as paper outlines, exploding powders, flash powers and the like. 